CCC: Concert, Classroom, Corner

In September Kelsey and I took a few girls to Philadelphia to serve at an outreach sponsored by Epiphany Fellowship.  This is an inner city church that seeks to reach those in the hip-hop culture and disciple them into mature believers in Christ.  This was such a good experience for our students because we were able to see people with the same passion and vision that we have for the campus transfered to a different culture.

OOPS...I forgot about my blog

I was doing so good for a whole week and then I skipped out on blogging and forgot about it all together.  I am trying to get it together, so be patient with me!

The Kite Runner

Yesterday I finished reading The Kite Runner.  I really enjoyed the book.  I thought it was well written and engaging, but the thing that sticks out to me the most is the harsh reality behind how Afghanistan is portrayed.  I can't imagine what it would be like to live in such a violent country, surrounded by such evil, fear, and brokenness.  I am praying for Afghanistan, that God would do a redemptive work there, and that people would find peace and salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.  Please join me in praying this.

Campus Outreach makes an Impact in Daytona Beach

I thought it was cool that C.O. made the Daytona News-Journal.  Click the title to read about what the SBP students are doing to help out in a community in need.

Money

The Bible speaks of money frequently.  It is no wonder to me considering how much is consumes our lives.  It has the ability to enable and hinder, to set free and cause bondage, it can be a great asset as well as a heavy burden.  I am currently raising support so I am heavily assessing my budget, needs, and current financial situation.  It is a lot to think about.  I really want to honor God with the way I view and handle money.  I will admit that this is a struggle for me because it takes an amount of planning and self control that I just do not enjoy.  This, like many other things is a part of God's commitment to sanctify me.  I am thankful for that.  Please pray for as I seek to honor God with all areas of my life. 

The Family Circus

Family is such a confusing mix of hard and wonderful.  The people you are related to have the unique ability to bless and curse you like no one else can.  I have been a missionary for 5 years, and I have never asked my family to come on my support team.  When I graduated from college with a nursing degree they were not exactly elated to see me go into full-time ministry, so I did not ask.  I wanted to give them some time to settle into the idea of me being in full time ministry before I asked them to be a part of it by giving, but there was a heavy dose of fear mixed in there, and that is what has kept me from asking for this long.  Today I asked.  I had my dad's two brothers and their wives over along with my parents and brother and I spent about an hour sharing with them what God has done in and through my life at Wingate, and then I asked...  It was so good.  It was so freeing to have them hear about what I was doing and seem genuinely interested.  I'm not sure if any of them will decide to come on my financial support team, but I was blessed by their presence either way!

Spotlight on Melissa Kegel

I met Brandi through a friend and we started hanging out on my hall. We ended up going to a campus event together and after that she started hanging out with me and my friends on the hall a lot. I remember one time when we went shopping together with a friend of mine, Pearlie, and she said to Brandi, “What is it exactly that you do? Brandi said, “well basically I hang out with college students. “ Since then we just clicked. We went to a beach retreat last year and I just really felt that God was tugging at my heart and asking me just to answer the door for him to come in. And so that night I recommitted my life to Christ and Brandi led me in that. Throughout the past two years I felt that God had been tugging at my life, but when I met Brandi there was someone there to guide me through that. So after I committed my life to Christ I became really excited to ask questions and became extremely hungry. After the summer, coming back into this semester, I know God is changing my life with my friends and just showing me who God really says he is. I’m excited to see what is going to happen at Summer Beach Project and all of the opportunities that will come through that. I’m excited that I will be able to have the training to lead girls to Christ.